All issues > Volume 37(7); 1994

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1994;37(7):946-952. Published online July 15, 1994.

Nonspecific Bronlchial Reactivity Determined by Tidal Breathing Method and Chest Auscultation - A Comparison with Dosimeter Method -

Soo Ahn SA Chae¹, Young Yull YY Koh¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

As a preliminary step to determine if we can perform methacholine challenge test in young children, we investigated the feasibility of modified technique of methacholine challenge test in which tidal breathing and chest auscultation were used instead of dosimeter and measurement of lung function in older children. The results are as follows 1) Values of PC20 measured by the tidal breathing method correlated significantly with those of PC20 measured by dosimeter. 2) Ratio of values(PC20)obtained with both methods was not related to age. 3) The minimal concentration of methacholine which caused wheezing on chest ausculation (PCW) correlated closely with PC20, but was 44%greater on average. 4) Expiratory wheezing is associated with greater fall of FEV1 from baseline than inspiratory wheezing Thus wheezing on chest auscultation can be used to detect bronchial obstruction at the end point for bronchial provocation testing in older children during the quiet tidal inhalation of methacholine. This may be applied to measurement of airway reactivity in young children who are unable to perform routine pulmonary function tests.

Keywords :Bronchial Reactivity, Tidal Breathing Method, Chest Auscultation